ABEL HERNANDEZ marked his return from two months out injured with a goal as Hull City cruised into the FA Cup fourth round.

The Uruguayan, who has been badly missed following his groin surgery, struck 12 minutes from time to break the deadlock.

Teenager Josh Tymon then added a second goal in stoppage time to settle a tie watched by just 6,608 fans

It meant a winning start to Marco Silva’s reign and one that came despite injuries leaving the Tigers squad down to the bare bones.

City started the game with just one fit centre half in Michael Dawson but even he didn’t last the full 90 minutes, meaning Silva’s side ended the game with two midfielders in the middle of defence and another at right back in David Meyler.

To defeat another Premier League team in such trying circumstances is credit to the fighting spirit of the squad that Silva inherited earlier this week.

Hull City's Abel Hernandez scores his side's first goal (Photo: PA)

A boycott by Tigers fans led to huge swathes of empty seats greeting the two teams as they came out as supporters made their dissatisfaction clear about how the Tigers are being run.

The flat atmosphere in the stands could have contributed to a flat first half, in which Eldin Jakupovic denied Sung-Yeung Ki and then Kristoffer Nordfeldt did the same to Sam Clucas at the other end but not a lot else happened.

City upped their tempo after the restart and the game was much livelier as a result. Clucas should have done better when presented with an early chance by Robert Snodgrass, who just before the hour headed over from an Andrew Robertson cross.

Snodgrass also curled a shot just wide when he perhaps should have picked out the unmarked Clucas.

At the other end, Jakupovic denied Nathan Dyer with a fine save after Stephen Kingsley had got in behind the home defence.

The City goalkeeper also kept out a Ki shot and moments later the deadlock was broken by the hosts through Hernandez, whose only previous goal this season had come at Swansea in August.

He fired in from close range after Shaun Maloney had teed up his fellow substitute.

A sweeping move in the second minute of stoppage time confirmed victory, as Hernandez back-heeled the ball to Snodgrass and he looked up to play Tymon through. He took a touch before drilling a low shot into the bottom of the net.

A Hull City fans holds a protest banner outside the ground before the Emirates FA Cup, Third Round match (Photo: PA).

Dawson, meanwhile, is an early injury doubt for Tuesday’s League Cup semi-final first leg at Manchester United.

He limped out of the action 20 minutes from time after landing badly to leave City with no fit centre backs, Tom Huddlestone having to drop back and partner Jake Livermore in defence

With midfielder David Meyler filling in against Swansea at right back, it shows just how stretched Silva’s squad is ahead of the club’s first appearance in the last four of the League Cup.